The implementation of comprehensive human rights due diligence (HRDD) processes underpins AngloGold Ashanti’s commitment to the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGPs) and ensures effective management of human rights risks, the gold miner says in its ‘Human Rights Report 2021’, published on October 28.

The implementation of the company’s HRDD processes, which include internal HRDD and social licence to operate (SLO) assessment tools, is said to align to AngloGold’s values to “uphold and promote fundamental human rights where we do business” and to “contribute to building productive, respectful and mutually beneficial partnerships in the communities in which we operate”.

Despite the delays and interruptions caused by Covid-19, by the end of 2020, all operations had conducted HRDD and SLO self-assessments.

In 2021, all sites underwent group-level SLO verification assessments as part of the company’s combined assurance process, and AngloGold is on track to complete the same for the HRDD assessments by the end of this year.

The overall outcomes of the SLO assessments - which include five assessment components (business disruptions; complaints and grievances; litigation; partnerships and collaboration; public/media perception) and inherently assess potential human rights impacts in the communities within which the company operates - were noted to be a marked improvement in partnerships with stakeholders, as well as improving acceptance and trust levels with its communities, in most jurisdictions, the report outlines.

At the same time, where gaps were identified, operational action plans have been instituted to address these, AngloGold says.

“The group-level assessments and the associated assessment criteria for each component have been well received at our operations and produced very thorough and engaged discussions, which raises awareness and sensitivity regarding potential human rights impacts,” the report states.

Relevant issues including modern slavery and sexual harassment form part of the assessment criteria – and the assessment process is posited to create the requisite knowledge and awareness around these issues.

To date, the most significant generic challenges are related to artisanal and small-scale mining and the associated negative human rights impacts; the inherent risks associated with any relocation or resettlement; and the ever present issues related to mining activities which include noise, dust and blasting impacts to structures.

“The HRDD process provides a mechanism to identify potential human rights risk timeously, but, more importantly, it acts as a monitoring mechanism to appropriately prevent, mitigate risk and, where necessary, take remedial action,” the report points out.

AngloGold emphasises that the ongoing refinement of appropriate methods of redress, through a properly functioning set of grievance mechanisms, remains a priority.

The report outlines that AngloGold’s human rights commitments will be to labour rights, mitigating modern slavery, health and safety, security and human rights, diversity and inclusion, preventing sexual harassment, Indigenous People’s rights and environmental rights.

CEO Alberto Calderon states in the report that integrating a fundamental respect for human rights in how the company undertakes business requires considerable work to put in practice, starting with its clear commitment to respect human rights, a pledge that is backed by a thorough HRDD process and follow-through in closing any gaps that this process identifies.

“We recognise that physical and social environments are dynamic, and so the work needed to identify the impacts of our business – and to address them –  is necessarily ongoing,” he points out.  

Calderon outlines challenges as including climate change; political instability exacerbated by growing imbalance between countries and within society; and presently, the high rates of inflation that threaten the livelihoods of the world’s most vulnerable.

“In addition, as a multinational mining company, we are focused on a range of human rights issues, including the protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, ensuring a workplace free from discrimination and harassment, upholding the rights of our workforce, maintaining an ethical supply chain, applying the highest standards of governance to the management of our tailings storage facilities, and providing adequately for the closure of our operations,” he says.

Calderon emphasises that the company’s employees have a critical role to play in ensuring it delivers on its human rights commitments.

“Training and communication help ensure they understand what human rights are, what they mean in the context of mining and what their responsibilities are in protecting them.  

“AngloGold also has a responsibility, where practically possible, to leverage its position and influence to ensure State actors also respect human rights,” he says.

To this end, the company is committed to engaging on the issue with the relevant stakeholders across all its operating jurisdictions.

“I’m pleased to report that, even during a year marked by an ongoing global pandemic, our teams across the portfolio have managed to ensure the implementation of the HRDD process, allowing us to improve our understanding of our human rights priorities and to embed the steps to better integrate them into our core business processes,” Calderon comments.